Governance by Indicators Global Power through Classification and Rankings

• Ground-breaking study of the use of rankings and indicators, which play an often crucial role in the global allocation of funds and resources, as a tool of good governance in international relations
• Draws on both empirical and theoretical analysis, combining insights from law, political science, economics, and anthropology
• Evaluates the effectiveness and reliability of indicators, and their impact on policy decisions, through the lenses of knowledge production and global governance

The use of indicators as a technique of global governance is increasing rapidly. Major examples include the World Bank's Doing Business Indicators, the World Bank's Good Governance and Rule of Law indicators, the Millennium Development Goals, and the indicators produced by Transparency International. Human rights indicators are being developed in the UN and regional and advocacy organizations. The burgeoning production and use of indicators has not, however, been accompanied by systematic comparative study of, or reflection on, the implications, possibilities, and pitfalls of this practice. 

This book furthers the study of these issues by examining the production and history of indicators, as well as relationships between the producers, users, subjects, and audiences of indicators. It also explores the creation, use, and effects of indicators as forms of knowledge and as mechanisms of making and implementing decisions in global governance. Using insights from case studies, empirical work, and theoretical approaches from several disciplines, the book identifies legal, policy, and normative implications of the production and use of indicators as a tool of global governance. 

Readership: Scholars and students of international law, international relations, good governance, and international organizations